Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Gruner has left us too soon

Thomas (Tom) Alexander Grunwald  1942 - 2017
Gone too soon

This blog has way too many funeral notices. Need more weddings and babies, although that is partly my fault, as the next generation is doing its part, but my compulsion to write has been driven by those we miss.

Gruner was so much a part of the family that he is in the post that is the introduction to TGP in this blog. He was a regular at our whole family July 4th gatherings.


Tommy July 4th 2006

While I clearly remember the amazing way he gave us geography lessons in 7th and 9th grade (quick, what countries are N,S,E,W of Sudan?) and the not so politically correct way he taught us about where the road to hell was really paved, what I appreciated most about Tommy was the way he continued to contribute, no matter what his position.

He showed me and wife Mary Anne and daughter Caroline around Sayre in 1994, as Caroline was beginning her stint at UK. He was so proud to limp over to buildings that weren't there when I graduated in 1979, and he was head of high school.

After moving back to KY, we enjoyed having more time with Tommy and Judy. They were at a dinner party at the house a couple of years back. We were sitting in the den, and he looked at a couple of prints on the wall. I never have thought much about those prints - they were in MA's house growing up, and she choses/places what goes on the walls at the house.  So, we were sitting there, reminiscing about who knows what, and he perks up and says - "That's the clipper ship red jacket"  He regaled us with the entire story!  1853, fast ship, etc. Who needs "OK, Google", when Tommy Grunwald is in your life?


We are all thinking about Judy, Matthew, Andrew and the rest of the Grunwald family. It's always hard to lose someone you love, and doubly so when he was such a great man, loved by so many.